Apparatus for feeding molten glass



Nov. 12, 1929. K. E. PEILER v APPARATUS FOR FEEDING MOLTENGLASS Filed Jurie 24.. 1925' 2 Sheets-Sheet -1 I In men or Ji arf (9:

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Nov. 12, 1929. K. E. PEILER 1,735,837

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING MOLTEN GLASS Filed June 24, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ill/Illa! .6 A l I Attorney.-

accomplished in such a feeder by rotating the Patented Nov. 12, 1929' UNITED STATE PATENT former.

KARL E. PEILER, or wEsT HARTFORD, CoNNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR "To mTroBD- EMPIRE COMPANY, or HARTFORD, ONNECTICUT, A ooarona'rro DELAWARE APPARATUS FOR EEEDINC NoLTEN GLASS Application filed 'J'une 24, 1925. Serial No. 39,2 42.

Myinvention relates to apparatus for feeding molten glass from a container to form mold charges, and it relates more particularly to feeders of the type employing an implement for stirring the glass prior to its discharge from the container. v v

' The object of my invention is to improve 1 the construction and operation of stirring apparatus forgla'ss feeders, by providing an Y arrangement in which the stirring implement shall be rotated independentlyof any glassimpellin mechanism that may be employed, and in W ich the stirring implement shall be rotatably mounted in a readily removable isbearing provided with meansfor cooling the bearing suflicientlyto withstand the heat tov which it is subjected while thefeeder is in operation. Rotary stirring implements are useful in-certain glass feeders,in order tocause the glass to issue from the discharge outlet of the feeder in a condition of uniform temperature and viscosity. In one such type of feeder, the discharge of the glass from the outlet is regulated by a reciprocatinglplunger, and the plunger is rotated to give t e glass a stirring movement coaxial with the outlet. Another type of feeder employs a plunger enclosed in a vertically adjustable tube which regulates the quantity of glass supplied to the outlet, and the stirring of the glass may be tube. In other types of feeders having rotary 'stirrers, the rotary implement performs only the function of a' stirrer and is independent of the glass delivery mechanism.

In feeders employing rotary stirrer im- 'plements of the several kinds mentioned above. the rotation of'the stirrer has heretofore been accomplished by mechanism di+ rectly connected to the feeder-operating mechanism. In such construction, any

change in the speed of operation of the feeder produces a corresponding ch'ange in the rotation of the stirrer. Preferably; however, the stirrer shouldbe rotated at a speed which gives the'desired circulation and mixing of the lass-and it is desirable to select this speed of stirring independently of the speed of feeder operation and to maintain the speed of the stirrer, notwithstandingchanges in the plished and the stirrer and its mechanism may be damaged by excessive wear which necess1- -tates*frequent repair and replacement, not

only of the stirrer parts, but also of the glasscontaining parts. I

I Accordlng to my present invention, the operation ofth'e stirring implement is con trolled independently of the other .feederoperating mechanisms, andthe' stirring imple ment, which is specifically illustrated herein asa tube surrounding a feeding plunger, is supported and rotated by means of an 1mprovedstructure which facilitates its operation, provides protection against heat, and provides for convenient removal and replacement of parts that are subject to wear.

In the accompanying drawings:

- Figure 1 is a front view, in elevation, of a lass feeder embodying my invention, showng parts of the apparatus in section;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on line Y 4-4 of Fig. 1, indicating the action of the glass in theforehearth.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates a glass container which may be part of a forehearth 11 connected to a furnace for supplying molten glass. The

containeris provi ed with an outlet well 12 and an associated outlet ring 13 through which molten glass is dischar ed to form inold charges under the contro of a vertically reciprocating plunger 14, and shearblades 15, 15 that are operated in timed .relation with the plunger. A moredetailed description of themechanism for mounting, reciprocating and adjusting the plunger 14, may be had by reference to my copending application for Letters Patent, filed Dec. 31, 1923, Serial No. 683,576.

The plunger" 14 is surrounded a: vertically adjustable rotary tube 16 o refractory material, having its lower end projectin into. the glass above the outlet 12. This tu is carried by an arm 17 which is adapted to accommodate a tube support and bearing embodying features of the invention hereinafter described. The positions of the tube and the plunge with respect to theglass container are shown in Fig. 4, in which the arrows indicate the action of the flowing lass under their influence of the rotating tu e. The rotation of the tube imparts to the glass a rotary movement i which is symmetrical with the discharge outlet and which, therefore, produces the most effective stirrin action for givin uniform temperature an viscosity-to the discharged masses of glass.

When the tube 16 is lowered, as shown in Fig. 1, it acts as a gate to interrupt the flow of glass to the outlet, and when it is raised, it permits glass to flow to the outlet in an amount controlled by the position to'which the tube is adjusted. In order to I adjust the tube 16 vertically to thus regulate the amount of glass admitted to the outlet, the arm 17 is mounted for vertical adjustment by any suitable mechanism, as, for example,

tube and its bearln'gmembers may be removed. The bearing for supporting the tube comprises an annular gear 23 which is supported for rotation between ball bearings 24 contained in a raceway composed of removable u per and lower annular retainer plates 25 and 26 respectively. I The lower plate 26 fits into a seat on the housing 22 and the upperplate is secured to the upper portion p the housing by tap, bolts 27 and is also adapted to form a cover plate for the bearing.

The tube 16 is secured to the gear 23 by means of a hollow cylindrical clamping member 28 provided at its lower extremity with a reduced portion 29 which terminates in an inwardly extending flange 30 that supports the tube 16 by engagement with "a flange 31 provided thereon. The upper portion of the member 28 is secured to the lower side of ear 23 by means of tap bolts '33.

I e tube is clamped for rotation with the gear 23 by the cylindrical member 28 and a cooperating eyllndrical clamping member 34 extending within the member 28. The lower-extremity of the inner member 34 terminates in projections 35 which engage the the top of the tube flange 31. The top portion of the inner cylinder 34 is flanged outwardly, and is formed into a plurality of spaced re-" tainer lugs 36 that are arranged'to' cooperate with tap bolts 37 to secure the cylindrical clamping member 34 to the upper side ofv the ear 23. The lugs 36 on the clamping memer 34 are provided with slot-ted openings 38 to form a bayonet joint which permits the member 34 to be released from the tap bolts and from the gear 23 by a twisting motion. This bayonet joint construction provides a ready means for releasing and removing the tube from its support without disturbing any of the adjustments of the tube-operating mechanism.-

For the purpose of rotating the tube 16, the gear 23 is driven through interconnecting idle gears 39, 40 which are mounted on an extension of the arm 17. These idle gears are enclosed by a suitable housing 41 which is also carried by the supporting. arm 17 As shown herein, power for rotating the tube is supplied by an independently operated motor 45 which is geared to an operating shaft 46, mounted in a bearing 47 which may form a part of the feeder frame or casing 11. The shaft 46 carries at its upper end a gear 48 which is enclosed in the housing 41 and is adapted to mesh with the idle gear 40. The face of the gear 48 is verticallyelongated sufliciently to permit the desired relative vertical movement between the stationary gear 41 and the idle gear 40 which is moved vertically with'the arm 17 whenever the tube 16 is adjusted up or down. The driving gear 48 and the idle gear 40 are maintained in mesh by means of an extension 49, provided on the extremity of the arm. 17, Fig. 2. The extension 49 is provided with an adjusting bolt 50 which is adapted to engage a guide 51 mounted on the shaft bearing 47. This arrangement takes up the dri-Vethrust reaction of the gearing and permits the tube 16 and its gears 23, 39 and 40 to be adjusted readily up or down while the tubeis rotatm The apparatus above described forsupporting and rotating the tube is carried by the vertical bar 18, and in order to relieve the strain u onthis bar and to facilitate the vertical adjustment of the tube, an eye bolt 52 is attached at a convenient location on'thearm 17 and is connected by a cable 53 to a suitable counterbalance mechanism, not shown.

A stirrer projecting into the glass in ,a feeder forehearth must necessarily extend through an opening in the forehearth cover which is somewhat larger than the stirrer.

This leaves aspace around the stirrer through which heat from the interior may radiate and through which hot gases or flame may escape, sometimes with considerable force. To minimize the effect of this heat on the tube supports and mechanism and, particularly, on the'bearings which support the tube for rotation, the parts supporting the tube are so proportioned as to bring-the bearings and mechanism at a considerable distance above the end 'of the tube and a heat shield and cooling means are "interposed between.

the forehearth opening and the bearings. The cylindrical clamping members 28 and 34 are of such diameter and depth as to space the tube bearings substantially above the zone of intense heat. In addition, 'thelower ortion of the housing 22 is arranged to orm an annular chamber 42 into which suitable cooling fluid, preferably air, may be introduced through inlets 43. These inlets are preferably arranged tangentially as shown, so as to ive the cooling air a swirling motion in t e chamber 42 and distribute the cooling effect. The chamber 42 provides a. cooling zone which not only acts as a heat shield but also has a cooling influence on the adjacentparts and distributes cooling air to the bearing parts an'd'to the outer clampingcylinder 28. A large part of this cooling air escapes through the annular opening 44 and flows downwardly along the clamping cylinder 28, forming an annular et. This annular' jet may be given sufficient force by properly regulatin the supply throughthe inlets 43 so as to low against the annular opening in the forehearth' cover around the stirrer, thus opposin the; issue of hot gas and flame and so furt er protecting the tube v on v the bearmg support "WlthOllt disturbing the bearings and mechanism from the heat. In the normal operation ofa. glass feeder, it is desirable to deliver glass of uniform temperature, composition arid viscosity to the.

outlet, so. as to form homogeneous mold charges. The glass in passing from the furnace toward the feeder outlet'tends to flow more rapidly at the center of'its flow channel than at the outer edges thereof. Moreover, the outer edges and bottom are generally relatively cooler. Thus the glass tends to approach the outlet with a hotter core par tiallysurrounded or bordered by a colder sheath. In addition to this, cold glass tends to collect in the dischar e chamber immediately in front of the ischarge outlet and form a pocket of dead or partially devitrified lass. The result is that the glass tends to issue from the outlet with different portions which tends to from are'cordy,

having a different temperature andviscosity, roduce im erfect ware. Sometimes these e ects' are suc that the resulti'ng mold charges and ware made theret at is, have optical streaks. The effect of these tendencies may be minimized by uniformly stirring the glass symmetrically with the outlet ust prior to its discharge through he outlet. The'stirring a circulati the outlet which avoi s or minimizes the collection of viscous pr dead glass in the. front of the discharge chamber and the stirring also mixes and effects on the feeder parts and on the stirrer mechanism. vIt is, therefore, an important advantage of my present arrangement that the rotation of the tube and the regulation of its speed are independent of the plunger operating mechanism. This feature is shown in mg copending application for Letters Pat- 'ent, led April 30, 1925, Serial No. 26,887.-

Another important advantage of the construction herein shown and described is that the plunger and the tube may be removed readily and without disturbing the connections for driving the tube. Since the bearings are subject'to considerable wear, even when the bearings are kept relatively cool by the means 'described above, it is frequently necessary to replace these elements. This is readily accomplished by removing the re-- tainer plate 25 which permitsthe removal of the tube and its holding mechanisms as a unit. Thus the tube may be removed from bearing-gelements, or -the; tube and bearing support 'may be removed without detaching the tube from its bearing supportor disturbing the adjustments of anyfof the opcrating mechanisms? I Wliile I have shown and describeda preferrediembodiment of the invention, it will said implement, and means for directlng cool- 1 ing fluid adjacent to said bearing. 7

2. Apparatus for feeding molten glass, comprising a container having a discharge outlet, a vertical plunger mounted for reciprocation above said outlet, a rotary tubular member surrounding said plunger-and having its lower end extending into the glass in said container, a bearing for rotatably supporting said tubular member, and means for directing cooling fluid adjacent -to saidbearing. 3. Apparatus for feeding molten glass,

comprising container having a discharge out-' let, a rotary implement projecting into the lass in said container, a support for the said implement including a bearing mechanism for said im lement, and means for directing a cooling uid around said bearing mechanism.

4. Apparatus for feeding molten glass,

comprising a container having a discharge.

outlet, a rotary implement projecting into the glass in said container, a rotatable support for said implement, a bearing carrying said support, a housing adjacent to said bearing, and means for projecting cooling air into said housing.

5. Apparatus for feeding molten glass, comprising a container having a discharge outlet, a rotary implement projecting into the glass in said container, a support for said implement and, its operating mechanism including a housing, im lement rotating mechanism mounted in lihe housing, and means associated with the housing for directing cooling fluid around the implement opera ting mechanism.

6. Apparatus for feeding molten glass, comprising a container for the glass having a discharge outlet, a plunger mounted for vertical reciprocation above said'outlet, a tube surrounding said plun er and having its lower end immersed in'tl ie glass in said container, a bearing for supporting and rotating said tube, means for connecting said bearing and said tube and for spacing said bearing substantially above said tube, and means for directing cooling fluid adjacent to said spacing means and said bearing.

7. Apparatus for feeding molten glass, comprising a container having a discharge outlet, a rotary implement extending into the glass in said container, and mechanism for supporting and rotating said implement, comprising a rotatable annular support, a bearing therefor, and a holder for said implement comprising clamp members carried by said rotatable support, one of said clamp members being removable from said support to enable said implement to be removed upwardly from said holder through said annular support,

8. Apparatus for feeding molten glass, comprising a container having a discharge outlet, a rotary implement extending into the glass in said container, and mechanism for supporting and rotating said implement, comprising a rotatable annular support, a bearing therefor, and a holder for said implement comprising clamp members secured to said rotatable supportfrom above and from below respectively, the clamp member that is attached to said support from above being removable to permit said implez-ncnt to be removed upwardly through said support and through said bearing.

9. Apparatus for feeding molten glass, comprising a container having a discharge outlet, a rotary implement extending into the glass in said container, and mechanism for supporting and rotating said implement, comprising a rotatable annular support, a bearing therefor, and a holder for said implement comprising two concentric-annular members, the adjacent portions of said members at one end thereof being arranged to engage said implement, and the other ends of said members being secured to said rotatable support, the inner annular member of said holder being removable to permit. said implement to means connecting said implement with said rotary annular supporting member and including a member removable to permit upward movement of the implement through said rotary annular supporting member.

11. Apparatus for feeding molten glass, comprising a container having an outlet, a plunger mounted for reciprocation above said outlet, a rotary tube surrounding said plunger. a vertically adjustable support for said tube, a rotary'bearing member mounted on said su )port and connected with said tube, remova le bearing elements disposed above and below said bearing member and normally preventing axial movement of said bearing member and said tube relatively to said support, and means for releasing said tube to permit upward movement thereof through said rotary bearing member.

12. Apparatus for delivering molten glass from a container having an outlet comprising a rotary stirring implement projecting into the glass in the container, a clamp detachably secured to the upper end of said implement, a gear detachably secured to said clamp, a support, removable bearing means interposed between the said support and the said gear. and means'for directing a cooling fluid to said bearing means.

13. Apparatus for feeding molten glass, comprising a container having a downwardly opening discharge outlet, a vertical plunger mounted for vertical reciprocation above said out-let to control the discharge of glass therefrom, a vertically adjustable rotary tube surrounding said plunger and having its lower end immersed in the glass in said container, and

.means for supporting and rptatin said tube comprising a vertically adjustab e support, a bearing raceway carried by said support,

an annular gear mounted rotatably said raceway, an outer annular clamping member having its upper end secured to said gear and having its lower end shaped to engage said tube, an inner annular clamping member having its upper 'end secured to said annular gear by a readily detachable connection and having its lower end adapted to cooperate with the lower end of said outer clamping member to clamp said tube, and gearing for rotating said annular gear. 1

14. Apparatus for feeding molten glass, comprisln a container having a downwardly opening dlscharge outlet, a' vertical plunger mounted for. vertical reci rocation above said outlet to control the disc arge of glass therefrom, a vertically adjustable rotary tube surrounding said plunger and having'its lower endimmersed in the glass in'said container, means for supporting and rotating said tube comprising a vertically adjustable support, a bearing raceway carried by said support, an annular gear mounted rotatably. in said raceway, an outer annular clamping member having its upper end secured to the under side of said annular gear, an inner annular clamping member having its upper end secured by areadily detachable bayonet joint to the upper side of said annular gear, .the said clamping members havingtheir'. lower ends adapted to clamp between them an upper portion of said tube, gearing carried by said support for rotating said annular gear, means for driving said gearing, a housing carried by said support and surrounding said outer clampin member, and means for introducing cooling uid into said housing and for thereby cooling said raceway, said annular gear and I said tubular member for, cooling said holder said clamping members. 1

15. Apparatus for feeding molten glass, comprising a container having a discharge outlet, a tubular rotary implement extendmg into the glass in saidcontainer, an annular bearing, a rotatable holder depending from said bearing for suspending said implement, and means disposed between said bearing and and said bearing. Y v I 16. Apparatus for feeding molten glass, comprising a container having a discharge outlet, a tubular rotary implement extending said bearin for suspending said implement,

- and means 'sposed between sald bearing and into the glass in said container, an annular bearing, a rotatable holder dependin from said bearin for suspending said imp ement, and means disposed between said bearing and said tubular implement for directing a constrained flow of cooling air upon said holder and upon said bearing.

17. Apparatus-for feeding molten glass, comprisin a container havlng a dlscharge outlet, a tu ular rotary implement extending into the'glass' insaid container, an annular bearing, a rotatable holder depending from 19. Apparatus -'comprisin a container having a discharge 85 members having to engage'said mplement and having other I said tubular member for cooling said holder and said bearing, the said cooling meanscomoutlet, atubular rotary-implement extending into the glass in said container, an annular.

bearing, a rotatableholder-depending from said bearing for 'suspendingsaid implement,

and means dis osed b-etweensaid bearing and said tubular 1mplement for shielding'said bearing from the zone of intense heat occupied by said implement andfor directing cooling air upon said holder and uponfsaid bearing, 2 v j for feeding moltenglass,

outlet, a tu ular rotary im lement extending into the glassin said container, double-thrust bearing means for rotatably slllpporting said; M implement and means norma y preventing said 1mplement both from upward movement and from downward movement relative to said bearing and including a member removable to permit upward movement of the implement through said bearing means.

20. Apparatus for feeding molten glass, I comprising a container having a discharge outlet, a tubular rotary implement extending into the glass in said container, a rotatable annular support for said implement and an annular bearing for said support, the said. bearing comprising thrust members disposed a member removable to permit upward movement of the implement through said rotatable annular support.

21. Apparatus for feedin molten. glass, comprising a container for t e glass having a discharge outlet, a plunger mounted for vertical reciprocation in substantially axial alignment with the outlet, a tube surrounding said plunger and having its lower end immersed in the glass in said container, a bearing for supporting and rotating said tube,

means for connecting said bearing and; said tube, and means for directing coolin fluid adjacent to said connecting means "an said, bearing. g

22. pparatus for feeding molten glass, comprising a container having a discharge outlet,'-'a rotary implement extending into the glass in said container, and mechanism for comprising a rotatable annular support, a bearing therefor, and a holder for said implement comprising two cooperative annular a jacent portions arranged supporting and rotating said implement,

portions connected with said rotatable suprt to cause rotation of the implement with said rotatable support, one of said annular members of said holder being removable to permit said implement to be removed from the other member of said holder.

23. Apparatus for feeding molten glass, comprisin a container hav ng a discharge outlet, a tu ular rotary implement extending 1o intO the glass in said container, an annular bearing, a rotatable holder de from said bearing for su ending said imp ement, ,and means isposed etween said bearing and said tubular member for cooling said holder 15 and said bearing, the said coolingmeans com go 'of June, 1925.

prising an enclosure surroundin said holder, and means for introducing coo an mto said enclosure. a

Signed at Hartford, Conn., this 22nd day KARL E. PEILER. 

